- The Baltimore Orioles trail the Tampa Bay Rays by 1.0 game in the American League East Divisional race.
- Online sportsbooks aren’t giving the Orioles any credit, as the Rays are -350 favorites to win the division.
- Pitching will be the key to the Baltimore Orioles claiming the 2023 AL East divisional crown.
BALTIMORE – The Baltimore Orioles have +325 odds to win the American League East Division. Their current eight-game win streak propelled the Baltimore Orioles to 1.0-game back in the AL East standings.
American League East Division Winner Odds
- Tampa Bay Rays -300
- Baltimore Orioles +325
- Toronto Blue Jays +750
- New York Yankees +1800
- Boston Red Sox +5000
While the Tampa Bay rays lost seven of their last 10 games, the Baltimore Orioles won eight games in that span. The Rays and Orioles are trending in opposite directions, which means bettors at USA online sportsbooks should take advantage of Baltimore’s current +325 divisional odds.
After an incredible 27-6 start to the 2023 MLB season, the Tampa Bay Rays are 33-30 since. Pitching injuries and an unsustainable start allowed the Baltimore Orioles to catch up I the divisional race.
Where the Orioles Have an Edge on the Rays
The Baltimore Orioles are similar or fall behind the Tampa Bay Rays in most team batting and pitching stats. However, Baltimore’s greatest advantage over Tampa Bay is in their relief pitching.
The Baltimore Orioles bullpen has been terrific this season, headlined by setup man Yennier Cano and closer Felix Bautista. Felix Bautista has an absurd 17.8 strikeouts per nine innings and a 1.02 earned run average, while Yennier Cano has a 1.61 earned run average and 2.2 wins above replacement.
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Lights out pitching for the eighth and ninth inning is reason enough to bet the Orioles +325 odds at Bovada sportsbook to win the AL East. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays bullpen is riddled with injuries.
The Rays bullpen has Jeffrey Springs, Shane Baz, Andrew Kittredge, Garret Cleavinger, and Drew Rasmussen on the 60-day Injured List. Not to mention Rays ace Shane McClanahan returns from the 15-Day Injured List on Monday night and Tyler Glasnow has hit the IL multiple times this season.
Both teams begin a series with division-leading opponents to begin the second half, with the Rays facing the Texas Rangers and the Orioles facing the Los Angeles Dodgers. A key four-game series between the Orioles and Rays begins on Thursday, July 20.
AL East odds at MLB sportsbooks are sure to change after the outcome of these highly-anticipated series with major divisional implications.
Zach graduated from Florida State University after majoring in Writing, Editing, and Media with a minor in Communication. He has a passion for sports betting and specializes in DFS for NFL, NBA, and MLB. At the casino, you can find Zach playing blackjack or roulette.
